Akin, David
Professor
Director of Space Systems Laboratory
Director of Space Systems Laboratory
Aerospace Engineering
Maryland Robotics Center
Maryland Robotics Center
2100D Neutral Buoyancy Research Facility
EDUCATION
- B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( Aeronautics & Astronautics)
- M.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Aeronautics & Astronautics)
- Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Aeronautics & Astronautics)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Professional Services
- Member, AIAA Distinguished Lecturer Program
- Member, AIAA Space Automation and Robotics Technical Committee Chairman 1998-99
- Member of NASA Telerobotics Intercenter Working Group
- Member of NASWA EVA Forum
- Member, NASA Solar System Exploration Subcommittee, Space Science Advisory Committee
- Member, NASA Task Force on Technology Readiness
- Member, NASA Mars Exploration Program Formulation and Planning Team
- Organizer, NASA Mars Exploration Program Research Outreach Workshop
- Chairman, Space Systems Faculty Search Committee (x2)
- Chairman, Systems Design Curriculum Committee
Institutional Services
- Member, Systems Dynamics and Control Curriculum Committee
- Member of Undergraduate Committee
- Member, University Diving Control Board
- Member, Aerospace Engineering Undergraduate Committee
Space systems and operations; space human factors; telerobotics; space simulation; and space applications of artificial intelligence. Projects include NASA’s astrobiology project (ASTEP), a morphing upper torso, the Ranger satellite servicing system, an advanced research/simulation suit, the visual positioning system, partial gravity simulation, automatic rendezvous and docking, SCAMP, and an exoskeleton.
Conference Proceedings
- David L. Akin, Craig R. Carignan, and Stephen R. Roderick, "Autonomous Dexterous Sampling: From the Arctic Ocean to Mars and Beyond" Earth-Space 2008 Conference, Long Beach, CA, March 2008
- David L. Akin and Shane Jacobs, "Investigations into Several Approaches to EVA-Robot Integration" 2007-01-3232, 37th International Conference on Environmental Systems, Chicago, IL, July 2007
- Shane Jacobs, Elizabeth Benson, David Akin, "Kinematic Analysis of a Robotically Augmented Pressure Suit for Planetary Exploration" 2007-01-3171, 37th International Conference on Environmental Systems, Chicago, IL, July 2007
- Agnieszka A. Koscielniak and David L. Akin, "Development and Testing of a Metabolic Workload Measuring System for Space Suits" 2007-01-3212, 37th International Conference on Environmental Systems, Chicago, IL, July 2007
- Elizabeth Benson, Shane Jacobs, and David Akin, "Investigation of a Cable-Driven Parallel Mechanism for Pressure Suit Arm Resizing and Motion Assistance" 2007-01-3170, 37th International Conference on Environmental Systems, Chicago, IL, July 2007
- John Mularski and David Akin, "Water Immersion Ballasted Partial Gravity for Lunar and Martian EVA Simulation" 2007-01-3145, 37th International Conference on Environmental Systems, Chicago, IL, July 2007
- Craig M. Lewandowski and David L. Akin, "Development of a Single-Fluid Consumable Infrastructure for Portable Life Support Systems" 2007-01-3246, 37th International Conference on Environmental Systems, Chicago, IL, July 2007
- L. Aksman, C. Carignan, and D. Akin, "Force Estimation Based Compliance Control of Harmonically Driven Manipulators", IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, Rome, Italy, April 2007
- David L. Akin, "Human/Robotic Systems to Enable In-Space Operations in the CEV Era" AIAA-2006-7390, AIAA Space 2006 Conference and Exhibit, San Jose, California, Sep. 19-21, 2006
- Brian Roberts and David Akin, "Robotic Servicing of Hubble Space Telescope: Lessons Learned from a Short-Lived Program" AIAA-2006-7393, AIAA Space 2006 Conference and Exhibit, San Jose, California, Sep. 19-21, 2006
- David Akin, Brian Roberts, Stephen Roderick, Walter Smith, and Jean-Marc Henriette, "MORPHbots: Lightweight Modular Self-Reconfigurable Robotics for Space Assembly, Inspection, and Servicing" AIAA-2006-7408, AIAA Space 2006 Conference and Exhibit, San Jose, California, Sep. 19-21, 2006
- Shane E. Jacobs, David L. Akin, Jeffrey R. Braden, and David Graziosi, "Morphing Upper Torso: A Novel Concept in EVA Suit Design" 2006-01-2142, 36th International Conference on Environmental Systems, Norfolk, VA, July 2006
- Shane E. Jacobs, David L. Akin, and Jeffrey R. Braden, "System Overview and Operations of the MX-2 Neutral Buoyancy Space Suit Analogue" 2006-01-2287, 36th International Conference on Environmental Systems, Norfolk, VA, July 2006
Transforming Engineering: Highlighting Maryland Engineers
In celebration of Black History Month, we highlight the many impactful contributions of Black engineers in our community—students, alums, faculty, and staff—to the Clark School, our university, and world.Diving Deeper into Competition, and Recruitment
UMD’s RoboSub team sets sights on blasting the 2024 competition out of the water.Investing in Environmentally Responsible Engineering
A grant from The Lemelson Foundation will accelerate environmentally and socially responsible engineering through innovation in undergraduate curricula.Clark School Engineers 3D Print Protective Face Shields
Clark School faculty and additive manufacturing experts are working to 3D print protective face shields in response to critical PPE shortages.Found in Space
How an 18-year-old student engineering project showed up in a new sci-fi book.Clark School Team to Compete in NASA's RASC-AL Competition
A team of Clark School students will compete in this year's RASC-AL competition, held June 18-20, 2019.Bioinspired robotics REU students present final projects
The REU was led by Hugh Bruck and Sarah Bergbreiter, along with Clark School faculty and graduate student mentors.UMD RASC-AL Team Wins Big, Akin Recognized with PEACH Award
A team of 19 undergraduate students won first place for the RASC-AL theme category and second place in the overall competition.MRC faculty hosting REU summer program in bioinspired robotics
Ten undergraduate students from throughout the US are conducting research under the guidance of MRC faculty.UMD Team Takes Second at NASA BIG Ideas Design Competition
Aerospace Engineering undergrads design winning solar electric propulsion (SEP)-powered space tug.Two UMD Teams NASA BIG Idea Challenge Finalists
Two UMD Aerospace Engineering student teams selected as finalists in NASA's BIG Idea Challenge.Paley presents at NAE 2016 Frontiers of Engineering Symposium
Three Clark School faculty attend NAE 2016 Frontiers of Engineering Symposium.UMD Students Win 2015 RASC-AL Competition
Aerospace engineering students design winning concept for a Mars settlement and lunar refueling station.UMD Team Wins 2015 Robo-Ops and Sets New Course Record
Maryland students and their rover 'Frigg' win first place at the 2015 Robo-Ops Competition.Maryland Robotics Center hosts Northrop Grumman Navigation and Maritime Systems Division team
Meeting attendees identified and discussed topics of mutual interest.Aerospace Students Excel at 14th AIAA YPSE Conference
UMD students placed in both presentations and paper categories at the 14th AIAA YPSE Conference.Students present final projects for 2014 NSF Microrobotics REU
Research ranged from robotic skin to leg designs, inertial tail actuators, and more.UMD Alumni Hatch Sub-$300 Consumer 3D Printer, Raise $3.3 Million on Kickstarter
Alumni-founded company races past $50,000 goal in 11 minutes, hits $1 million in 25 hours.UMD Takes Second at 2013 RASC-AL Competition
Undergraduate aerospace design team places second at NASA RASC-AL competition.Clark School Students Shine in Recent Competitions
Teams earn first place in DOE Hydrogen Student Design Contest; third in NASA Robo-ops Competition.Maryland students impress at National Robotics Week
Projects highlight Maryland Robotics Center research.Akin is finalist in Hubble Space Telescope repair plan
June 2004—Ranger robot developed by ISR associate professor could be used to repair famed eye in the sky.Akin team ties for first place at NASA competition
May 2004—"MORPHLAB" to be presented at AIAA Space 2004.Space Systems Laboratory's Ranger robot is proposed to NASA
Proposal is made to assist in upgrading the Hubble Space TelescopeAkin PI for NASA ASTEP award
Program examines extreme Earth environments to enable future space missions to determine whether life exists or has existed.Akin, Principal Investigator for NASA award
NASA's $3 million ASTEP award will fund development of dexterous robot arm...- Associate Fellow